JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a few weeks away, and she’s getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she participated in a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in various industries, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were to respond to hiring concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and employment Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what type of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To get ready for employment them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a “quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to help individuals learn more about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential advantage of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that essentially every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an educated decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, budgets and “constructing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later down the road,” he said.

That preparation work includes preparing for task fairs.

“You require to enter into a working with reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe said.

He explained that guests should pinpoint the business they want to consult with and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and talked to some employers. A senior info innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.